After Effects Machine Specs

[Cassius Marques]

[Stephen Ong] “Is that graphics card ok with Ae, I wasn’t thinking i’d need to go overboard there, I use C4D very occasionally.”

I’d even say that if you don’t use 3D all that much to change that to a consumer grade with equivalent cost that would still give you better performance in case you end up using it. Most GTX nowadays will come with enought output ports (I use 3 monitor, you haven’t specified) and have more cuda cores and are cheaper than the quadros.

Cassius Marques
http://www.zapfilmes.com

[Stephen Ong]

Thanks Cassius
Would a consumer graphics card be ok for 3D in Ae using cameras over 2D layers?
I assume we are talking high spec 3D work in C4D?

I’d like to get more into C4D, just am not using it for client work yet, would the card there be overkill for basic logo animations in C4D even? I’d be interested in keeping the option open of being able to use the machine for 3D further down the line.

[Cassius Marques]

[Stephen Ong] “Would a consumer graphics card be ok for 3D in Ae using cameras over 2D layers?”

Won’t make a single difference. Its all on the CPU (unless you intend to use GPU capable plugins such as Element 3d, and on that case a consumer grade will still outclass that quadro (more cuda cores))

[Stephen Ong] “I assume we are talking high spec 3D work in C4D?”
The only reason to go for a quadro is huge scenes in a 3d application viewport. Quadros, as far as I know can compute opengl faster and with more precision. And that won’t mean you will render out of C4d faster (that too will be on the CPU).

[Stephen Ong] “I’d like to get more into C4D, just am not using it for client work yet, would the card there be overkill for basic logo animations in C4D even?”

Basically any current mid class GPU would be overkill for C4D, it only enables you to preview your viewport faster. Unless again you go for renderers that rely on it. (Octane, for example)

Cassius Marques
http://www.zapfilmes.com

[Stephen Ong]

Thanks again,
So better off adding more cores to the processor than having a good GPU for After Effects / C4D.
That will save a little bit not having that GPU, so tempted to add more cores or another SSD drive.

I was wondering if having RAID 0 stripped actually helps with Ae? as isnt it better to have your drives working independent of each other, RAID 0 seems like the drives write where they want and might slow down Ae?

[Cassius Marques]

[Stephen Ong] “So better off adding more cores to the processor than having a good GPU for After Effects / C4D.”

Not on every case, I mean, I definitely DON’T recommend THAT GPU. For the average use or at least what you specified, you can get better for the same price/cheaper.

But I for instance need fast GPU’s with at least 4GB ram. Some AE projects of mine simply won’t render a frame with fewer than that (using Element 3d). I feel that now and forward there will be more and more applications and plugins that will make use of it.

If you have the time and interest I can be more precise in the kind of work that I do that require that.

We’re thousand of miles away and perhaps we do diferent type of motion, but I do recommend a good gpu and not that quadro.

Cassius Marques
http://www.zapfilmes.com

[Stephen Ong]

Definitely be keen to hear what you work with.

I had a look at your work, not a million miles from what I’m doing.
Anda SP, Cuidando Pet, RAFA Coca Cola, 20 Anos are very similar to my current projects, 2D character rigs.

I’ve been working on a 60s long piece, it’s looking great but it’s struggling with the render taking around 2 hours for 60s, the first 20s were rendering in 10 mins, now 60s into project it’s so slow, this is on my MacBook Pro, so not great spec.

Maybe I need to manage my workflow differently and cut scenes up more into seperate Ae projects? Previewing entire project is fine at 1/3 resolution just render times so unreliable, a client asks me when i can get a file to them and i have to say 2 hours maybe 4 hours, who knows!

[Walter Soyka]

If you’re not getting dual CPUs, I think you should stick with an i7 instead of a Xeon.

Check out this thread:
https://forums.creativecow.net/thread/2/1066289

Lots of good advice from different perspectives.

Walter Soyka
Designer & Mad Scientist at Keen Live [link]
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
@keenlive   |   RenderBreak [blog]   |   Profile [LinkedIn]